an acronym for Behaviors of Users Modified and Made into an Empire for Rent..BUMMER represents statistical algorithms that calculate the chances that a person will act in a particular way. The overall population can be affected with greater probability than can any single person..Lanier outlines the components of BUMMER A – attention acquisition leading B – butting into everyone’s lives C – cramming content down people’s throats D – directing people’s behaviors in the sneakiest way E – earning money from letting the worst assholes secretly screw with everyone else F - fake modes and faker society

When people get a flattering response in exchange for posting something they get in the habit of posting more. It is the first stage of an addiction that becomes a problem both for individuals and society. Significant aspects of increasing engagement include randomness, economic
motivation without responsibility, andadaptability.

The benefits of networks only appear when
people use the same platform. [Think apple iphone, messaging, facetime,and apps.] Once the
app starts to work you are stuck with it.

These are called “lock-ins” and they are hard to avoid in digital networks.

We are carrying devices suitable for mass behavior modification.

We are crammed into online environments controlled by few centers guided by
business models that involves finding customers ready to pay to modify someone
else’s behavior.

New companies measure whether an individual changed their behaviors
and the feeds for each person are constantly tweak to get behaviors to change.